The two Libyan Mirages flown to Malta by defecting pilots are being disarmed by French civilian engineers to render them safe.
The pilots allegedly disobeyed orders to bomb civilians in Benghazi.
Martin Bugelli, Director of Information, said this evening that soon after the Mirages landed, a team of specialists from the UK’s Royal Air Force deactivated the weaponry and inspected the fighter jets.
In the second stage of the disarming process, the French engineers, who were sent over by the company that produced the aircraft, were rendering them completely safe.
When asked why this was being done, Mr Bugelli said it would have been dangerous to leave the Mirages armed on a runway.
The fighter jets are being kept under constant guard by soldiers.
Their pilots have sought political asylum.
Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi said on Monday that the Libyan prime minister had personally requested the return of the jets but Malta has refused. He said that a Libyan Arab Airlines plane which was refused landing permission by Malta last week carried pilots to take the fighters back.
MISTAKE ON DOCUMENTATION Of WEAPONS EXPORTS
Mr Bugelli also referred to the recent controversy sparked by a European report which said that in 2009 Malta had exported €79 million worth of weapons to the Libyan government.
The government had claimed that Malta had only issued a transit export licence to an Italian company and the arms were never actually in Malta.
In a letter in The Times yesterday, Italian ambassador Luigi Marras questioned government’s explanation and said that Italy had only exported €8 million worth of small arms to Libya in November 2009.
Mr Bugelli said this evening that the Italian company’s local agent, WJ Parnis England, admitted a typing error on the documentation submitted to the Maltese government.
In an official letter, which the government received from the agents earlier today and which was made public, the company admitted that an “extra 0” had been inadvertently typed in.
The Italian factory which supplied the military equipment to the Libyan government was Fabrica d’Armi Pietro Beretta.
EVACUATIONS
Referring the evacuation process, Mr Bugelli said that more than 13,000 evacuees from Libya had now used Malta for transit.
The catamaran San Gwann, with 66 people on board, is expected in Grand Harbour tonight, the HMS York tomorrow afternoon. The catamaran Maria Dolores is also expected tomorrow. A Korean military vessel is expected on Friday.
Mr Bugelli said that 247 Maltese have now returned from Libya and seven are on their way.
Yesterday evening, the government received requests for assistance from another two Maltese. Another three are situated on oil rigs and no contact has yet been made with three Maltese known to be in the country.
Mr Bugelli noted that a Russian who arrived from Libya today had gunshot wounds and is receiving treatment at Mater Dei hospital.
He said that from the 9,320 sea passengers who came to Malta, 34 required medical assistance.